Mobile sit-on toy crane

ABSTRACT

A mobile sit-on toy crane supported on casters and including a bicycle-type saddle from which there projects forwardly a boom which is capable of being raised and lowered under the control of a first lever. A pendulous non-magnetic tubular magnet housing is supported for fore and aft swinging movements from the forward end of the boom, such movements being effected under the control of a second lever. A pick-up magnet is slidably disposed within the housing and is capable of axial movement therein under the control of a third lever between a lower position wherein a loose magnetic object is attracted to the magnet, and a raised position wherein the magnet is withdrawn into the housing and the latter pushes the object from the magnetic field of the magnet and thus releases the object. In a modified form of the crane, the magnet and housing are replaced by a backhoe, the second lever serving to produce fore and aft swinging movements of the latter and the third lever serving to regulate the angularity of the backhoe.

Luttrell tet [191 Dec. 16, 1975 MOBILE SIT-ON TOY CRANE [76] Inventor: Argil W. Luttrell, 304 W.

Livingston St., Fairbury, 111. 61739 22 Filed: Feb. 14,1975

21 Appl.No.: 549,986

[58] Field 01 Search 212/1, 8 R, 28, 35 R, 59 R, 212/58 R; 214/138 R, 773, 775; 40/46 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,857 5/1919 Sabing 214/138 R 1,792,851 2/1931 Mary 214/138 X 1,827,541 10/1931 Oppeiman 214/138 R 2,804,979 9/1957 Lassiter 212/59 R 3,104,015 9/1963 Goldfarbu. 212/59 R 3,205,612 9/1965 Zoikowski. 214/138 R 3,539,063 11/1970 Masura 214/138 R 3,807,575 4/1974 Merrick 212/8 R 3,848,749 11/1974 Anderson et a1 212/8 R Primary ExaminerRobert J. Spar Assistant ExaminerR. B. Johnson [5 7] ABSTRACT A mobile sit-on toy crane supported on casters and including a bicycle-type saddle from which there projects forwardly a boom which is capable of being raised and lowered under the control of a first lever. A pendulous non-magnetic tubular magnet housing is supported for fore and aft swinging movements from the forward end of the boom, such movements being effected under the control of a second lever. A pickup magnet is slidably disposed within the housing and is capable of axial movement therein under the control of a third lever between a'lower position wherein a loose magnetic object is attracted to the magnet, and a raised position wherein the magnet is withdrawn into 'the housing and the latter pushes the object from the magnetic field of the magnet and thus releases the object. In a modified form of the crane, the magnet and housing are replaced by a backhoe, the second lever serving to produce fore and aft swinging movements of the latter and the third lever serving to regulate the angularity of the backhoe.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 2 of 2 MOBILE SIT-ON TOY CRANE The present invention relates to a sit-on toy crane which embodies a tractionally supported carriage providing an operators seat and certain control levers within easy reach of the operator, and by means of which all functions of the crane may be manually effected.

Toys of the type wherein adult activities may be emulated by a child are generally of two types, one type consisting of a mere miniature version of a full size vehicle, power tool or the like as, for example, an automobile or a train, or a power tool having only minimum functional characteristics, this type of toy usually being extremely small and depending for its satisfaction on mere observation by the child or, at best, upon such articulation of parts as is furnished so that the toy may be put through a few of the motions necessary to operate the full size adult vehicle or power tool. A more satisfactory type of toy is provided when greater child participation is involved, as in the case of a toy automobile within which the child may be seated and having traction facilities including steering mechanism, or of a small power tool having control levers or the like which enable the child to perform at least some of the functions of the adult tool, even though the toy may not be actually motorized or otherwise powered. It is to this latter class of toy that the present invention specifically relates.

Inasmuch as with commercial cranes of the magnetic variety, it is invariably the practice to employ an electromagnet for pick-up purposes, such sit-on toy cranes as are predicated upon magnetic pick-up are invariably provided with electromagnets which, when energized, will attract an object of a magnetic nature and which, when de-energized, will release such object. A toy crane of this character must be electrically powered, usually by means of one or more batteries or a special power pack so that not only is it expensive to operate over a given period of time, but also relatively costly switching and other electrical equipment is required to operate it. Where backhoe, shovel or grappling jaws are used in connection with a sit-on type toy crane, usually the pattern of a full size commercial crane is followed insofar as practicable and this results in expensive articulated parts such as sliding dipper sticks, cord and pulley controls and the like.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-noted limitations that are attendant upon the construction and use of present day minature or sit-on toy cranes and, toward this end, the invention contemplates the provision of such a crane wherein a permanent magnet is employed for pick-up purposes, together with push-off means whereby a magnetic article which has been attracted by the permanent magnet may be forcibly pushed from the magnetic field of the magnet for article release purposes. By such an arrangement, electrical controls are obviated. The provision of a sit-on toy crane such as has briefly been outlined above constitutes the principal object of the present invention.

Briefly, in carrying out this object, the invention contemplates the provision of a novel toy crane structure embodying a wheeled carriage supported on casters, having an operators seat and from which there projects forwardly a boom having a pendulous dipperstick at its forward end, the lower end of such dipperstick serving to support a tubular magnet housing which is formed of non-magnetic material. A permanent magnet is slidably disposed within the housing and is capable of being projected downwardly to a point where its magnetic field is available for pick-up purposes and retracted upwardly within the housing to a point where the lower end of the housing forces the object away from the magnet and out of the effective magnetic field thereof for object discharge purposes. A dipper-stick control lever is effectively pivoted to the boom near its proximate end and is connected by a link to the dipperstick the link serving to translate rocking motion of such lever into fore and aft swinging motion to the dipperstick. A third and magnet control lever also is pivoted near the proximate end of the boom and is connected by a link to a crank arm on the outer end of the boom, the crank arm also being connected to the magnet by a pull rod so that motion of the magnet control lever will raise and lower the magnet within its housing regardless of the position of the boom or the angularity of the dipperstick. The three levers are all within easy reach of the operator.

Further features of the present invention reside in a novel means whereby the operators seat is connected to the carriage and is also adjustable as to height, the connection between the seat and carriage being such that turning movement of the seat in any direction will impart torque to the carriage as a whole so that the latter, being supported on casters as aforementioned, will follow the direction of the seat. Furthermore, the seat, in any adjusted position thereof, is sufficiently close to the floor or other supporting surface that the child may propel the carriage in kiddie-car fashion, the reference being to a toy which was universally popular a generation ago.

In a modified form of the invention, the magnet and its housing at the lower end of the dipperstick is replaced by a backhoe in such a manner that the dipperstick functions as a scoop arm while the magnet control lever and its associated bell crank and pull rod are employed for adjusting the angularity of the backhoe during its scooping action.

The provision of a sit-on toy crane which is extremely simple in its construction and which therefore may be manufactured at a low cost; one which is possessed of a minimum number of parts, particularly relatively moving parts and which therefore is unlikely to get out of order; one which requires a minimum of skill for its operation so that it is readily adaptable for use by a young child; one which is. rugged and durable and which therefore will withstand rough usage; one which is capable of ease of assembly and disassembly for purposes of inspection of parts, replacement or repair thereof; one which isattractive in its appearance and pleasing in its design, and one which, otherwise, is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time enumerated, will become readily apparent as the following description ensues.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, two illustrative forms of the invention have been disclosed.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sit-on toy crane embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged partially exploded perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, illustrating in greater detail the mode of operation of certain control levers which are employed in connection with the invention and also illustrating the manner in which the operators seat is connected to the carriage for torquetransmitting purposes as well as for carriage propulsion.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged sectional view taken-substantially on the vertical plane indicated by the line 33 of FIG. 2 and in the direction of the arrows, a portion of the lever housing being broken away in the interests of clarity;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, showing the pick-up magnet in its retracted position, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail perspective view illustrating the manner in which a backhoe structure may be substituted for the magnetic pick-up structure of FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a sit-on toy crane embodying the present invention is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral and embodies a base carriage or chassis 12 having spider-like legs 14 of angular design and having foot portions 16 which carry caster wheels 18 at their lower ends. The carriage 12 is comprised of members 20 in the form of two lengths of rectangular tube stock (see also FIG. 2) disposed in side-by-side relationship and maintained in slightly spaced apart relationship by a cylindrical socket member 22 having diametrically disposed radially extending attachment ears 24 thereon. The opposed sides of the members 20 are recessed as indicated at 26, the recesses receiving therein the socket member 22 while the ears 24 lie between the members 20 and serve to maintain the same in their slightly spaced relationship. The members 20 and 22 are maintained in their assembled relationship by means of fastening bolts 28 which pass through aligned holes 29 in the members 20.

The spider-like legs 14 are form; (1 of cylindrical tube stock and have their upper ends driven horizontally into the open ends of the associated members 20 and fastened in place by through bolts 30 which are common to and pass through both members 20.

Seated within and projecting upwardly from the socket member 22 is a rod-like pedestal 32, the upper end of which receives thereover in telescopic fashion a tubular seat-support member 34, the upper end of which serves to receive thereon an operators seat which, preferably is in the form of a bicycle-type saddle assembly 36. The seat-support member 34 projects through the rear end region of a horizontally disposed superstructure in the form of an elongated beam 38, the member 34 being welded or otherwise secured to the beam as indicated at 40. The beam 38 directly overlies the members 20 and is parallel thereto so that upon turning movement of the saddle or seat 36, the entire carriage 12 including the superstructure or beam 38 will turn therewith, the parallel relationship being at all times maintained.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rod-like boom 42 is pivotally mounted on the beam 38 adjacent to the outer or distal end of the latter and is in the form of a length of rod stock the inner or proximate end of which is provided with a laterally turned end portion 44 which extends through the distal end of the beam 38 and thus constitutes a pivot arm for the boom as a whole. A

crank arm 46 has its proximate end anchored by a cotter pin or the like 48 to the pivot arm 44 and the outer end of such crank arm is connected by a curved link 50 to the lower end'region of a boom control lever 52. The upper end of the boom control lever 52 is provided with a suitable rubber or other elastomeric grip 54 while the lower end of such lever is pivoted between a pair. of spaced apart ears 56 provided on a reaction block or member 58 which is welded to and projects upwardly from the beam 38 near the forward end of the latter.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, and additionally to FIG. 3, the outer end of the boom 42 is bifurcated as indicated at 60 and this bifurcated end of the boom is connected by a transverse pivot shaft 62 to a pendulous dipperstick 64, the pivotal connection being effected near the upper end of the latter. The lower end of the dipperstick 64 serves to support a magnetically operable pick-up unit which has been designated in its entirety by the reference numeral and which involves in its general organization a cup-shaped magnet housing or shell 72 which functions as a magnet sheath and is formed of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum and which is provided with a circular bottom wall 74 and a cylindrical side wall 76. The upper end of the shell 72 is closed by means of a cover member 78 which is formed of a non-magnetic material such as wood and which is secured in position on the shell 76 by screws 80.

Disposed axially within the shell 72 and slidable vertically therein is a circular disk magnet 82 having a centrally disposed upstanding anchor post 84 formed thereon. The magnet 82 is centered within the shell 72 by means of a series of circumferentially spaced internal ribs 86 which offer but slight frictional resistance to the vertical sliding motion of the magnet.

The pick-up unit 70 is supported from the dipperstick 64 by means of a bracket 88 which is secured to the upper face of the cover member 78 and which is provided with a pair of upstanding ears 90 which straddle the lower end of a fastening sleeve 92 which is telescopically received on the lower end of the dipperstick 64 and fixedly secured thereto by fastening screws 94. The sleeve 92 is telescopically received over the lower end of the dipperstick 64 and is anchored in position by a fastening screw 96.

The upper end of the dipperstick 64 has pivotally connected thereto the forward end of an elongated dipperstick-actuating thrust link 98, the rear or inner end of the link being pivotally connected to the lower end of a dipperstick-operating lever which is pivoted near its lower on a transverse rock shaft 102 which extends across the upper region of a rectilinear box-like casing 104 and between the side walls thereof. The upper or top wall of the casing is formed with a longitudinal slot 106 therein through which the lever 100 projects. The casing 104 is fixedly mounted on the boom 42 near the proximate or inner end of the latter by suitable fastening nut and bolt assemblies 108, the position of the casing being such that the lever 100 is conveniently accessible to the reach of a child who may be sitting on the operators seat or saddle 36.

From the above description it will be apparent that the lever casing 104 moves bodily with the boom 42 and that fore and aft shifting movements of such lever will effect corresponding fore and aft shifting or swinging movements of the pick-up unit 70 for placement of the latter relative to an object to be hoisted by the crane, all in a manner that will be set forth in detail presently.

Referring now to FIGS. 2- and 3,-the aforementioned transverse pivot shaft 62 servesto Ipivotally support the medial region of a bell crank 110 having anorr'nally vertical arm 112 and a normally horizontal arm 114. The upper end of thearm'112 is pivotally connected to the forward end ofa thrust link 116 and the rear end of such link is pivotally connected to the lower end of a magnet control lever 1 18 which is similar to the magnet housing control lever 110' and which is similarly pivotally mounted on the rock shaft 102 and extends through a second slot 1l9'alongside.the slot 106. The forward end of the hor izontalarm 114 of the bell crank 110 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a telescopic lift rod 120 including. an upper sleeve part 121 and' a lower rod part 122. The lower end of the rod part 122 is provided with a laterally turned leg 123 which serves tosupport the extreme upper looped end 124 of a vertical pull wire 126, the lowerdend of the wire 126 being suitably anchored in the aforementioned anchor post 84. A circular boss 128 is formed on the underneath side of the cover member 78 and establishes a pilot seat for the upper end of a helical compression spring l30 which bears at its lower end on a seating washer 132 supported on the upper end of the anchor post 84. i v v i The operation of the pick-up unit 70 is predicated upon the principle that when the permanent magnet 82 is resting upon the bottom wall 74 of the shell '72 and the latter is brought into contact with a magnetic article A, the latter will lie within the magnetic field of the magnet 82 to such an extent that it will be captured by the magnet and thus held against the bottom wall 74', and that when the magnet 82 'is moved upwardly within the shell 72 an appreciable distance, such bottom wall will prevent the article from following the upward movement of the magnet and the former will eventually be pushed, so to speak, to a region where the strength of the magnetic field acting on the article A will no longer hold the article captured and the same will be released if the pick-up unit is raised bodily. Thus, in the operation of the herein described sit-on toy crane, when a child has taken his place on the seat or saddle 36 he may propel the carriage 12 in any direction he sees fit by the simple expedient of walking in kiddie-car fashion on the floor or other traction surface 140. Because the seat is fixedly mounted on the carriage -12.as previously described, and becausethe carriage is tractionally supported on casters; no steering mechanism is required for the crane'chassis or carriage and the child may direct the carriage at any angle, even sidewise if desired. I i

Assuming forpurposes of discussion that the lever 52 is in its normal rearmost position wherein the crank arm 46 maintains the boom in'a raised position so that the pick-upunit 70 maintains the'magnet housing 72- elevated from the floor 140 and above the level of a loose magnetic object which is to be lifted by the crane, it is a comparatively easy matter for the child to utilize his legs and feet to cause the toy crane to approach the object in such a manner that the piCk-up'unit moves into close proximity to the latter. As soon as the carriage has been propelled to within boom reach of the article A, the child may utilize the lever 100 to swing the dipperstick 64 in the general direction of the article while at the same time the boom control lever 52 may be manipulated with a forward motion to actuate the crank arm 46 and swing it in a counterclockwise direction'as viewedin'FIG. 1, thus lowering the boom 1 16 and-causing the pick-up unit shell 72 to seat upon the article A. It is to be assumed of course that at this time the lever 118 will be disposed in its rearward position as shown in FIG. 3 so that the permanent magnet rests on the bottom wall 74 of 'the'magnet housing 72.

Ordinarily, wherever practicable, the pick-up unit willrbe brought to aposition of vertical alignment or register with the article A immediately before the boom 42 is lowered-to seat the shell 72 upon the article but, under certain circumstances, especially if the article is tilted on the floor surface, or if it presents a planar surface which does not extend substantially parallel to the floor, the boom may be maintained in such a position that the bottom wall 74 shell 72 extends substantially parallel to such planar surface, after which the entire crane assembly may beadvanced in such a manner as to cause the bottom wall 74 to seat upon the planar surface of the article. Experience will dictate the proper procedure for bringing the bottom wall 74 into the most appropriate engagement with the article.

After the bottom wall 74 has been caused to seat upon the article as described above, the boom control lever 52 will be manipulated by shifting it rearwardly to actuate the crank arm 46 as previously described to move it in a clockwise direction as viewed'in FIG. 2, thereby raising the boom 42, together with the article A which adheres to the bottom wall 74 of the shell 72 by reason of it being captured within the magnetic field of the magnet 82. Theentire crane may then be propelled to bring the pick-up unit 70 to a position where release of the article is desired. Thereafter, in order to discharge the article A, the lever 118 may be pushed forwardly ,so that the bell crank will be rotated in a clockwise direction, thereby raising the lift rod 120 and its associated pull wire 126 so as to retract the magnet 82 and move it away from the bottom wall 74 of the shell 72. The article A, being prevented from following the magnet 82, will therefore no longer remain within the magnetic field of the magnet and it will thus be released. It will be understood that only a slight retracting movement-of the magnet will suffice. to release the articleinasmuch as the magnetic force exerted on the latter ,is a function of the square of the distance between the magnet and the article.

FIG. 5 has been included mainly in orderrto illustrate the versatility of the present toy. crane, Use of the backhoe arrangement shown in-FIG.Z 5 will convert the toy crane from a magnetic type pick-up to a shovel type pick-up. The backhoe arrangement is comprised of a sheet metal backhoe shovel having a shovel bottom 152, upstanding sides 154, a front wall 156 and an open rear end. A top wall for the shovel 150 is effectively provided by means of a pair of S-shaped plates 158 having downwardly extending flanges 160 which straddle the shovel side walls and upstanding attachment flanges 162 which are capable of receiving therebetween the dipperstick 64 and the lower end of a rod part 164 which is similar to the rod part 122 but whichis devoid of the laterally turned leg 123; Removable pivot pins 166 and 168 extend between the plate flanges 162 and serve to pivotally connect the rod part 164 and dipperstick 64 respectively to the backhoe shovel 150.

It will be readily apparent that by effecting the substitution of the backhoe arrangement of FIG. 5 for the magnetic pick-up unit 70 as described above, the lever 52 will continue to be employed for raising the backhoe 7 arrangement bodily to control its elevation relative to the floor. A combined use of the two levers 100 and 118 will be employed to regulate the angularity of the backhoe shovel 150, relative movement of these two levers effecting fore and aft tilting movement of the shovel.

If desired. the lever 52 and the boom 42 can be locked or maintained in a fixed angular position by the operator. This can be accomplished by arranging a suitable friction clutch. latch or ratchet mechanism, not shown, on the beam 38 at the junction of said lever 52 and boom 42.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

What I claim is:

1. A sit-on toy crane comprising a universally directionally mobile carriage which is floor-supported on casters, said carriage including a forwardly projecting fixed beam and a forwardly facing operators saddle disposed above the rear end of the beam at a level suffi- I ciently low as to enable the operator to straddle the beam and propel the carriage in any direction by foot contact with the floor, a forwardly projecting boom having its proximate end pivoted to the forward end of the beam for swinging movements of the beam in a vertical plane, a boom control lever pivoted to the beam forwardly of said saddle and capable of fore and aft swinging movements, a crank arm on said boom, a link extending between the lever and crank arm for translating the swinging movements of the former into raising and lowering movements of the boom, a dipperstick pivoted adjacent its upper end to the forward end of the boom and depending therefrom in pendulous fashion for fore and aft swinging movements, a dipperstickoperating lever effectively pivoted to the beam adjacent the rear end of the latter and capable of fore and aft swinging movements, a thrust link connecting said latter lever and the dipperstick for translating the swinging movements of such lever into swinging movements of the dipperstick, a pick-up unit carried by the lower end of said dipperstick, a second control lever pivoted to the beam forwardly of said saddle and capable of fore and aft swinging movements, and linkage mechanism connecting said latter lever and pick-up unit and effective to translate the swinging movements of such lever into actuating movements of the pick-up unit.

2. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pick-up unit is of the magnetic type and comprises a magnet sheathe which is fixedly secured to the lower end of the dipperstick, a permanent magnet is slidably disposed within said sheathe, said second control lever comprises a magnet control lever, and said linkage control mechanism extends between the magnet control lever and magnet and is effective to translate the swinging movements of such lever into sliding movements of the magnet within the sheathe.

3. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 2, wherein said linkage mechanism between the magnet control lever and magnet comprises a bell c'r'ank pivoted to the forward end of the boom and having a normally horizontal arm and a normally vertical arm. a second thrust link connecting the magnet control lever and normally vertical arm, and a pull rod effectively connecting said normally horizontal arm and magnet.

4. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 3, wherein said magnet sheathe is in the form of a cylindrical shell having a circular bottom wall formed of non-magnetic material, and a top wall, a compression spring extends between said top wall and magnet and yieldingly biases the latter into engagement with said bottom wall, and said pull rod is of a composite nature and embodies a lift rod pivoted at its upper end to said normally horizontal arm of the bell crank, and a pull wire having its upper end secured to the lower end of the lift rod and its lower end secured to the magnet, said pull wire passing through a small hole which is formed centrally in said top wall.

5. A sit-on toy as set forth in claim 3, wherein said dipperstick is pivoted medially of its ends to the beam and projects upwardly above the latter, and the thrust link which connects the dipperstick operating lever and the dipperstick is connected at its forward end to the extreme upper end of the dipperstick.

6. A sit-on toy as set forth in claim 5, wherein said dipperstick and bell crank are connected to the forward end of the boom by a common pivot pin.

7. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 1, wherein the boom is in the form of a length of cylindrical rod stock having its proximate end region turned laterally and projecting through a transverse bore which is formed in the forward end of said beam, thus affording the pivotal connection between the boom and the beam, and said crank arm is fixedly connected at its proximate end to said laterally turned end region and the link which extends between the boom control lever and crank arm is pivoted at its opposite ends to the outer end of the crank arm and a medial region of said latter lever.

8. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 7, wherein means are provided whereby the height of said beam, and consequently of the boom and operators saddle, above the floor may be adjusted to accommodate the effective length of the legs of the operator.

9. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pick-up unit' is in the form of a backhoe shovel, which is pivotally connected to the lower end of said dipperstick, said linkage mechanism between the second control lever and the pick-up unit compresses a bell crank pivoted to the forward end of the boom and having a normally horizontal arm and a normally vertical arm, a second thrust link is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the normally vertical arm of the bell crank and the second control lever, and a rigid connecting link is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the normally horizontal arm and the backhoe shovel at a point removed from its point of pivotal connection to the dipperstick. 

1. A sit-on toy crane comprising a universally directionally mobile carriage which is floor-supported on casters, said carriage including a forwardly projecting fixed beam and a forwardly facing operator''s saddle disposed Above the rear end of the beam at a level sufficiently low as to enable the operator to straddle the beam and propel the carriage in any direction by foot contact with the floor, a forwardly projecting boom having its proximate end pivoted to the forward end of the beam for swinging movements of the beam in a vertical plane, a boom control lever pivoted to the beam forwardly of said saddle and capable of fore and aft swinging movements, a crank arm on said boom, a link extending between the lever and crank arm for translating the swinging movements of the former into raising and lowering movements of the boom, a dipperstick pivoted adjacent its upper end to the forward end of the boom and depending therefrom in pendulous fashion for fore and aft swinging movements, a dipperstick-operating lever effectively pivoted to the beam adjacent the rear end of the latter and capable of fore and aft swinging movements, a thrust link connecting said latter lever and the dipperstick for translating the swinging movements of such lever into swinging movements of the dipperstick, a pickup unit carried by the lower end of said dipperstick, a second control lever pivoted to the beam forwardly of said saddle and capable of fore and aft swinging movements, and linkage mechanism connecting said latter lever and pick-up unit and effective to translate the swinging movements of such lever into actuating movements of the pick-up unit.
 2. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pick-up unit is of the magnetic type and comprises a magnet sheathe which is fixedly secured to the lower end of the dipperstick, a permanent magnet is slidably disposed within said sheathe, said second control lever comprises a magnet control lever, and said linkage control mechanism extends between the magnet control lever and magnet and is effective to translate the swinging movements of such lever into sliding movements of the magnet within the sheathe.
 3. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 2, wherein said linkage mechanism between the magnet control lever and magnet comprises a bell crank pivoted to the forward end of the boom and having a normally horizontal arm and a normally vertical arm, a second thrust link connecting the magnet control lever and normally vertical arm, and a pull rod effectively connecting said normally horizontal arm and magnet.
 4. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 3, wherein said magnet sheathe is in the form of a cylindrical shell having a circular bottom wall formed of non-magnetic material, and a top wall, a compression spring extends between said top wall and magnet and yieldingly biases the latter into engagement with said bottom wall, and said pull rod is of a composite nature and embodies a lift rod pivoted at its upper end to said normally horizontal arm of the bell crank, and a pull wire having its upper end secured to the lower end of the lift rod and its lower end secured to the magnet, said pull wire passing through a small hole which is formed centrally in said top wall.
 5. A sit-on toy as set forth in claim 3, wherein said dipperstick is pivoted medially of its ends to the beam and projects upwardly above the latter, and the thrust link which connects the dipperstick operating lever and the dipperstick is connected at its forward end to the extreme upper end of the dipperstick.
 6. A sit-on toy as set forth in claim 5, wherein said dipperstick and bell crank are connected to the forward end of the boom by a common pivot pin.
 7. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 1, wherein the boom is in the form of a length of cylindrical rod stock having its proximate end region turned laterally and projecting through a transverse bore which is formed in the forward end of said beam, thus affording the pivotal connection between the boom and the beam, and said crank arm is fixedly connected at its proximate end to said laterally turned end region and the link which extends between the boom control lever and crank arm is pivoted at its opposite ends to the outer end of the crank arm and a medial region of said latter lever.
 8. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 7, wherein means are provided whereby the height of said beam, and consequently of the boom and operator''s saddle, above the floor may be adjusted to accommodate the effective length of the legs of the operator.
 9. A sit-on toy crane as set forth in claim 1, wherein said pick-up unit is in the form of a backhoe shovel, which is pivotally connected to the lower end of said dipperstick, said linkage mechanism between the second control lever and the pick-up unit compresses a bell crank pivoted to the forward end of the boom and having a normally horizontal arm and a normally vertical arm, a second thrust link is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the normally vertical arm of the bell crank and the second control lever, and a rigid connecting link is pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the normally horizontal arm and the backhoe shovel at a point removed from its point of pivotal connection to the dipperstick. 